Electromagnetic locomotive.



PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

J.L;POTTER. 4 ELECTROMAGNETIC LOGOMOTIVE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1050.11. 1905.

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No. 858,211. PATENTED JUNE-25, 1907.

- L. POTTER. ELECTROMAGNETIC LOGOMO'I'IVE APPLICATION FILED DEG. 11,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR:

1 ATTORNEY. n

UNITED s'rA'rns PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. POTTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY G.

IIAWEKOTTE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ELECTROMAGNETIC LOCOMOTIVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed December 11, 1905. Serial No. 291,213.

To all whom it incty concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH L. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electromagnetic Locomotives; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for generating power b y means of electro-mag; nets and armatures that are movable with respect to the electro-magnets, and to vehicles for the portable support thereof to be operated thereby, the invention having reference particularly to electro-magnetic locomotives that are self-contained or complete with the source of power contained therein; particularly to the armatures, the arrangement of the electro-magnets, the arrangement of the battery, he means for starting and stopping and governing the speed of the power generator or engine, and to minor features of the locomotive and mechanism thereof.

Objects of the invention are to provide an electro-magnetic locomotive and also powergenerating mechanism of simple construction that may be operated with the minimum expenditure of electric energy; to provide sim ple and effective means for controlling the intermittent magnetization of the magnet cores of the mechanism; to provide improved compound armatures; and to provide suitable inexpensive locomotive construction adapted to have electro-magnetic powergenerator mechanism combined therewith, and to provide a construction of the abovementioned character that may be adapted to be employed in the production of instructive and amusing toys.

With the above-mentioned and minor obj ects in view, the invention consists in a wheeled structure supporting a battery and electro-magnets and the relative arrangements thereof, a beam provided with either simple or compound armatures or with multiple armatures movable to or from the electro-magnets and connected with a rotative shaft, means for connecting the rotative shaft with. a drive wheel of the wheeled structure, an eccentric cam attached to the shaft or equivalent circuit-breaker, and a controllable brush mounted opposite to the cam or circuit-breaker to be engaged thereby. And the invention consists further in the novel parts and the combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the complete electromagnetic locomotive; Fig. 2, a plan view of the machine inverted; Fig. 3, a front elevation of the machine with the front door of the body omitted and portions of the top of the body and parts of the wiring broken away; Fig. 4, a longitudinal vertical sectional vie W on the line A A in Fig. 3, parts of the wiring being broken away; Fig. 5, a top plan of the locomotive; Fig. 6, a fragmentary perspective view of the movable beam slightly modifled; Fig. 7, a perspective view of one of the movable armatures that are mounted on the beam; Fig. 8, a perspective view of a pair of the magnet cores; Fig. 9, an elevation of a power generator constructed substantially in accordance with the invention but having slight modifications with respect to the ar- 'rangement of the beam and magnet cores;

Fig. 10. a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line B B in Fig. 3 and Fig. 11, a sec tional view somewhat similar to the preceding figure showing in detail a modified form of device for controlling the brush as illustrated in Fig. 9.

Similar reference characters in the different figures of the drawings designate correspondmg elements or features.

In practically carrying out the invention a.

suitable body O is provided which may be made in any fanciful or desirable shape and size, either as part of a large and highlv powerful locomotive, or as a part of a meretoy, and the body comprises framework for the mechanism, and also an inclosure for the electric battery and preferably for the electromagnets. The body may in some cases be employed as a stationary base for the powergenerator and battery, but in order to fullv illustrate the complete invention the body O is provided with a pair of axles D and D. and it has front and rear doors a, and bhung on hinges c and provided with latches (Z. The axles are mounted in wheels 6, c fij", one of the rear wheels being suitably secured to the rear axle for driving purposes. A battery arranged in the body C and preferably comprises a pair of cells E and E or more inserted on their sides in the middle portion of the body and removable from the rear end. thereof when the door I) is open. Anchors, as g and ,7 are attached to the body and the zinc elements, as h and h are connected to the anchors for holding the cells in place.

A pair of magnet cores F and F secured to a yoke i are arranged in one end of the body C, and a pair of cores F and F secured to a yoke t" are arranged in the opposite end of the body, the cores being suitably wound with wire, will be understood, and supported fixedly b the body 0. A pair of the bare cores as preferably formed are shown in Fig. 8, and as will be seen each core is oblong in plan or cross-section so that the two cores of each magnet may be arranged relatively close together and ach one be broad enough to influence a plurality of armatures arranged side by side, the cores extending longitudinally in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the movable beam that is to be actuated b r the electro-magnet,there being openings in the top of the body C through which the cores project.

A suitable frame comprising upright members G and G mounted upon the body C provide support for a relative crank-shaft H and also for a pivot rod j, there being a sprocket wheel 1 and also balance-wheels 7c and 7t secured to the crank-shaft. A counter-shaft J is j ournaled suitably at the lower portion of the body C and supports a sprocket wheel K and a relatively smaller sprocket wheel L, both wheels being secured to the counter-shaft. A chain-belt Z opera'lively connects the wheels I and K together, and a chain belt m connects the wheel L operatively with sprocket wheel M that is secured to the driving D.

The movable beam above-referred to may be arranged. to have rocking motion, or it may be arranged to move bodily with lateral or reciprocating motion. The beam N is mounted between its ends on .he pivot-rod j and operates as rocking or working beam and is provided with a compound armature comprising a suitable number of assembled operaxively connected bars, as O, O, 0*, there being two bars shown in Fig. 3 and three in Fig. 6, and in some cases one bar alone may be employed. Between each two bars is preferably either a space or an element n composed preferably of non-mag- A net-ic material or substance insulating or isolating one bar from the other, whereby increased power may be obtained from a number of bars over that to be obtained from a lesser number having the bulk of the greater number. One or more compound armatures, as P and Q, comprise multiple armatures the sides of the armature of the beam N with the armature thereof. Each one of the multiple armatures is composed of two or more bars, as 12, 13, la, in Fig. '7, and preferably interposed insulation n connected operatively together and provided with a suspension link or rod of suitable length. A pair of arms p and p are arranged at either end of the beam N and have each an end pivoted to the beam, the opposite end of one arm having a link 9 pivoted thereto, and the opposite end of the other arm having a relatively shorter link 9 pivoted thereto, a pair of "the compound multiple armaiures being attached to the links, one to each link, so that all of the armatures will be at liflerent distances from the magnet cores when not in contact therewith, the arms p and p. engaging projections 1" of the beam N that are arranged at opposite sides thereof. In some cases, however, the projection at one side of the beam may be arranged in a different plane than that of the other projection, and then the links p and p may be equal in len th, as will be obvious. A pitman 8 connects the beam N with the crank-shaft H.

A pair of eccentric cams R and R are secured to the crank-shaft H, each cam being so formed that a yielding brush may be adjusted so as to have a longer or shorter period of contact with the eccentric or curved side of the cam, in order to either increase or decrease the power as applied to the crankshaft and consequently vary the speed of the mechanism, the power being greatest when applied the longer time to the moving crank of the crank-shaft during each revolution of the crank-shaft. Two brush-holders S and Sare mounted on the frame members G and G and support contact brushes T and T, each brush-holder being movable adjustably on a securing pivot if so as to move the brush thereon to or from the cam with which electrical contact is to be made. Each brush is elastic and has a free end movable to or from the cam and is controlled by suitable means, as a screw V co-operating with the brush and the brush-holder, or a movable band W extending about the brush and engaging an inclined top U with which the brush-holder may be provided, as in Figs. 9 and 11. A circuit wire is connected to each brush by a binding screw u or otherwise. A circuit wire 1) forms an electrical connection bet-ween the cells of the battery, a wire w connecting one cell with a journal-box of the shaft H and thereby with the shaft and the cams thereon. A wire a: connects the winding of one of the electrc-magnets with the brush T; a wire y connects the winding of the other electromagnet with the brush T, and wires 2 and 2 are respectively connected to the windings of the two electro-magnets and are joined together and connected to one of the cells of the battery, all wiring being of suitable arrangement, as will be understood.

In Fig. 9 the beam N shown is constructed and equipped with armatures substantially as is the beam N above-described, but the beam N is provided with a fixed guide-bar 15 that is mounted in guides 16 and 17, there being two connected magnet cores F and F opposite the armatures, the beam N having an armature O secured thereto, A base X supports a frame Y and also a yoke Z to which the cores are attached in the usual manner. A crank-shaft H is connected by a pitman s with the beam N, and a brushholder S mounted on the frame supports a brush T opposite a cam R that is mounted on the crank-shaft.

It will be understood that the wheels of the locomotive may be adapted to run on rails, or that the forward wheels may be arranged as guiding or steering wheels; that the battery cells may be arranged close together so as to be compact, that the motor mechanism and make-and-break devices may be modified suitably in form and relative arrange ment, and that means may be provided for permitting the operation of the crank-shaft without moving the locomotive structure, or that reversing gear may be provided for the locomotive mechanism.

In practical use, the brush or brushes are to be moved suitably for starting or stopping the engine mechanism, the brush being moved by its controller away from the path of the adjacent cam to break electrical. circuit and thus stop the machinery, and closer to the cam to start and to increase the speed, while for decreasing the speed the brush should be moved off sufliciently to provide reduced amount of contact between the cam and the brush. The circuit may be closed during any desired part of the stroke of the crank of the crank-shaft between dead centers of the crank to vary the speed of the mechanism, by ready adjustment of the brush. The particular movements of the various parts ofthe mechanism and the results of the operation thereof will be understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newis 1. An electro-magnetic locomotive including carrying wheels, a frame mounted on the wheels, abattery cell mounted on the frame,

a rotative crank-shaft mounted on the frame,

an electro-magnet mounted fixedly on the frame, an armature mounted movably opposite to the electro-mag'net and operatively connected with the crank-shaft, gearing operatively connecting the crank-shaft with one of the carrying wheels, an electric circuit between the battery cell and the electro-magnet, a movable circuit-breaker, a brush mounted movably with respect to the circuit-breaker, means for controlling the movements of the brush, and an electric circuit to the circuit-breaker and to the brush.

2. An electro-magnetic locomotive including a hollow body provided with carrying wheels and having a battery cell, and also an electro-magnet mounted therein adjacent to the cell, frame members mounted on the top of the holllow body, a rotative crankshaft mounted on the frame members,-an armature mounted movably opposite to the electro-magnet and operatively connected with the crank-shaft, gearing operatively connecting the crank-shaft with one of the carrying wheels, an electric circuit between the cell and the electro-magnet, a movable circuit-breaker, a brush for cooperating with the circuit-breaker, and an electric circuit to the circuit-breaker and to the brush.

3. An electromagnetic locomotive including carrying wheels, a hollow body mounted on the wheels, a plurality of battery cells mounted within the hollow body, a plurality of electro-magnets mounted within the hollow body at the ends of the cells with their cores projecting through the top of the hollow-body, frame members mounted upon the top of the hollow body, a rotative crankshaft mounted on the frame members, an armature mounted movably opposite to the plurality of electro-magnets and operatively connected with the crank-shaft, gearing operatively connecting the crank-shaft with one of the carrying wheels an electric circuit between the plurality of cells and the plurality of electro-magnets, and a make-andbreak device for the circuit.

4. An electro-magnetic locomotive includ ing carrying wheels, a hollow body mounted on the wheels, a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of electro-magnets mounted within the hollow body, an armature mounted movably opposite to the electro-magnets, a

rotative shaft operatively connected with the armature, a support for the rotative shaft, a gear wheel secured to the rotative shaft, a gear wheel operatively connected with one of the carrying wheels, a countershaft supported by the hollow body and having a pair of gear wheels secured thereto, gear connections between the gear wheel of the rotative shaft and one of the gear wheels of the counter-shaft, gear connections between the other gear wheel of the countershaft and the gear wheel that is connected with the carrying wheel, an electric circuit, and a make-andbreak device for the circuit.

5. An electro-magnetic locomotive including carrying wheels, a hollow body mounted on the wheels, a plurality of battery cells mounted in the hollow body, a plurality of electro-magnets supported by the hollow body, frame members mounted upon the top of the hollow body, a rotative crank-shaft mounted on the frame members, an armature mounted movably opposite to the electromagnets and operatively connected with the crank-shaft, a sprocket-wheel secured to the crank-shaft, a sprocket-chain extending from the sprocket wheel through the hollow body and operatively connected with one of the carrying wheels, an electric circuit between the cells and the electro-magnets, and a makeand-break device for the circuit.

6. An electro-magnetic engine including a framework, a rotative shaft mounted in the framework, a movable circuit-breaker, a brush for co-operation with the circuitbreaker, a movable beam operatively con nected with the rotative shaft and provided with a multiple compound armature com prising a plurality of separate magnetic bars magnetically separated and secured fixedly to the beam and an armature comprising a plurality of separate magnetic bars magnetically separated and secured fixedly together and connected to the beam movably with respect thereto, an electro-magnet mounted on the framework opposite to the multiple compound armature, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit to the circuit-breaker and the brush.

7. An electro-magnetic engine including a framework, a rotative shaft mounted in the framework, a movable circuit breaker, a brush for co-operation with the circuit breaker, a movable beam operatively connected with the rotative-shaft and provided with a compound armature comprising a plurality of separate magnetic bars and nonmagnetic material between the separate bars secured fixedly together and to the beam collectively, an electro-magnet fixed in the framework opposite to the compound armature, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit to the circuit-breaker and the brush.

8. Anelectro-magnetic engine including a framework, a rotative-shaft mounted in the framework, a movable circuit breaker, a brush for co-operation with the circuitbreaker, a movable armature beam operatively connected with the rotative shaft and provided with a compound armature comprising a plurality of separate magnetic bars and non-magnetic material between the bars secured fixedly to ether collectively and provided with a connecting device operatively connecting the compound armature with the armature beam movably with respect thereto, an electro-magnet, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit to the circuit breaker and the brush.

9. An electro-magnetic engine including a framework, a rotative-shaft mounted in the framework, a movable circuit-breaker, a brush for co-operation with the circuit breaker, a movable multiple armature comprisim a plurality of separate groups of magnetic bars, each group of bars having nonmagnetic material between the bars thereof, the groups of bars being operatively connected together and with the rotative-shaft, an electro-magnet, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit to the circuit-breaker and the brush.

10. An electro-magnetic engine includinga hollow body, a plurality of battery cells mounted in the hollow body, a plurality of electro-magnets mounted in the body in proximity to the ends of the cells in a plane between two of the cells, a framework mounted upon the body, a rotative shaft mounted on the framework, a beam guided on the framework in a plane between the cells and operatively connected with the rotative shaft, a ms pivoted to the beam, a plurality of armatures having links fixed thereto and pivoted to the arms, the armatures being opposite to the electromagnets, a movable circuit-breaker, a brush for co-operation with the circuit-breaker, an electric circuit be tween the cells, and an electric circuit to the circuit-breaker and the brush.

11. An electrc-magnetic engine including a framework, a rotative-shaft mounted in the framework, an electro-magnet, an armature movable opposite to the electro-magnet and connected operatively with the rotative shaft, a source of electricity, a circuitbreaker comprising a movable part and an adjustable part for co-operation with the movable part, means for adjustin and controlling the adjustable part with respect to the movable part of the circuit-breaker, and an electric circuit to the circuit-breaker.

12. An electro-magnetic engine including a framework, a rotative-shaft mounted in the "framework, an electro-magnet, an amature movable opposite to the electro-magnet and connected operatively with the rotative shaft, a source of electricity, an eccentric cam mounted on the rotative shaft, a brushhclder mounted adjustably on the framework, a brush mounted on the brush-holder opposite to the eccentric cam, and an electric circuit to the cam and the brush.

13. An electro-magnetic engine including a framework, a rotative-shaft mounted in the framework, an electro-magnet, an armature movable opposite to the electro-magnet and connected operatively with the rotative shaft, a source of electricity, an eccentric cam mounted on the rotative-shaft, a brushholder mounted on the framework, a brush mounted adjustably on the brush-holder, means co-operating with the brush-holder for controlling and adjusting the position of the brush With respect to the eccentric cam, crease or decrease the periods of time of closed [0 and an electric circuit to the cam and the circuit, and circuit Wires suitably arranged.

brush. In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature 14. An electro-magnetic engine including in presence of two Witnesses. an electro-niagnet, a source of electricity, a JOSEPH L POTTER rotative shaft, an armature movable opposite to the electro-magnet and connected Witnesses: p operatively with the rotative-shaft, variable WM. 0. THOMPSON, circuit-breaker apparatus adjustable to in- E. T. SILVIUS. 

